Cycling UK Forum

Stradageek

Hi Guys

I have two pairs or 'Team Saracen' branded padded lycra cycling shorts which I picked up for £5 each, years ago at a Cycle Promotions one day sale.

Their unique feature is that they are two layer lycra and therefore thicker than the normal single layer (skin fit) thin black lycra shorts and much more comfortable on a recumbent seat (and more absorbent to cope with a sweaty recumbent bum).

The problem is I can't find replacements for my ageing pairs anywhere. Thin single layer lycra shorts abound but I can't trace the thicker version - where can I find them?

And while I'm on the topic whatever happened to looped polyester cycling jerseys, again thicker and more absorbent/comfortable on a recumbent seat - can't find a source of these either!

All help much appreciated, I've tried many alternatives and desperately want to replace the exact type.

Cheers

Stradageek

Stradageek

Mick F wrote:Turn them all off and save a fortune.
At the very least, turn 'em off 'tween midnight and 0600 like they used to.

I have a torch, I have lights for my bikes, I have lights on the car. What are streetlights for?

I agree, makes backyard astronomy easier too and as I have also said before, the spin-off benefit, in streetlightless areas of Northampton, is drivers travelling slowly because their race track is no longer illuminated

Stradageek

PaulCumbria wrote:Hi All
First post here. I've ridden recumbents for quite a few years - I used a Greenspeed trike as my main transport in inner London for a few years, followed by an HP Velotechnik StreetMachine, on which I did a lot of touring, including extended trips in Sri Lanka and Vietnam. I've had no bike at all for a year or two, but I'm now awaiting delivery in a few weeks of an HP Velotechnik Grasshopper from Kinetics in Glasgow - Rohloff hub gears, SON hub dynamo - I can hardly wait!

To business - in the past I used to wear a mix of cycling-specific clothing (SPD shoes, training tights and cycling tops) and more general outdoor gear (Rohan shorts, Craghopper shirts etc). I dug all my old cycling gear out of the cupboard yesterday, but it's just too tired to be useable, so I'm thinking about what new apparel to go for.

Standard cycling gear is OK, but zips on back pockets (on tops and bottoms) can snag on seats, so they are a no-no, and any back pockets are a complete irrelevance, of course. I live in Kendal, home base of running specialists Pete Bland Sports, and I wondered if anyone had tried wearing running gear on recumbents? Their running tights seem reasonably cheap, and this sort of jacket looks like it might be good. Any thoughts?

I'm also aware that cycling has grown massively in popularity in the last couple of years, so I might be out of touch with current clothing manufacturers. Any recommendations for cycling clothing brands and/or items that are a) good value, b) snug fitting and c) free of rear zips, or otherwise good for recumbent use?

Any suggestions gratefully received!

If you have the money then go here http://www.reversegearinc.com/index.php?main_page=index sadly I haven't the money so can't comment on quality. I tend to seek out cycling gear with minimal back pockets at cycle sales. I have however found a great gilet at Aldis with a front pocket and a merino wool top from the same, both of which were cheap and are greatly prized.

Stradageek

I have occasional trouble with both 'Meanderthals' and 'Podestrians' but my poor wife was nearly knocked off by an oncoming cyclist who was weaving all over the cycle path because he was trying to both write a text message and listen to his iPod. Still glad he wasn't driving - I've seen the same behind the wheel of a car - now that's really scary!

Stradageek

Greatest change here in Northants follows switching off most of the street lights.

Drivers now can't see beyond their headlights at night and have consequently slowed down!

Have written to the council to congratulate them, but ran up against a problem. The council has endless systems for registering and dealing with complaints but none to deal with compliments, hey ho.

Stradageek

enigmatic wrote:Andrew Mylrea was today sentenced to a 12 month's driving ban, 150 hours community service (to be done during ban), and ordered to pay £3500 court costs in full by 1st October.

Just hope someone, somewhere, is taking note of the inability of our Courts to adequately punish drivers who kill innocent cyclists. I'm sure Hazel doesn't think much of it. But no matter what you or I think about the sentence, nothing will bring Pat back.

Am I alone in thinking that the most appropriate sentence for vehicluar manslaughter would be something like a mandatory 10 year driving ban?

Apologies if I'm covering old ground and many many condolences to friends and family

Stradageek

Hi Guys

There are some common themes emerging here, I'm collating them all - keep them coming!

Now where's that map and a pencil?

Cheers

Stradageek (though we'll be travelling by Kettwiesel Tandem)

Stradageek

A few years ago my wife and I cycled the 250mile (waymarked and mapped) 'Border Loop' stopping at B&B's along the way - twas brilliant, not even having the house burgled while we were away dulled the enjoyment.

We'd like to repeat the formula (abandon car for a week at the start point and loop back to it) covering a similar distance but this time we'd like to see the best of the Scottish Highlands.

Does a similar loop exist, stopping in large enough towns/villages to offer a good evening meal but traversing the wilds in between and covering about 50mpd?

I know there are many databases I should trawl through, but can anyone give me a head start?

Cheers

Stradageek

Stradageek

cycle cat wrote:We are the new lepers!
We don't pay "road tax" and we're all uninsured.
Feel free to run us over as we should all be trained, have number plates, wear
high vis vests and helmets.

We all career around on footpaths and kill pedestrians.
If there is a cycle path, we must use it or motorists must throw
things at us or shout abuse.

If one of us gets killed, it's our fault for holding up a motorist, or daring
to be on the road.
A cyclist's life is only worth a few bob and a couple of points on a driving licence.
You're not allowed to be sexist or racist any more.
That's all right. We've got cyclists for that.

Yes I've had some horrible experiences on board a bike.
Does any other road user get this much grief?

Hi Cycle cat, I feel your frustration.

I used to get equally upset until I realised that what I was experiencing was 'road rage' pure and simple, rather than a vendetta against cyclists. It dawned on me that the guys who give me grief on a bike (only 1/100 on my latest survey) will give anyone grief (OAPs driving slowly, lorries, tractors, women drivers, pedestrians etc. etc.).

I now feel much less isolated and marginalised and generally laugh it off - making me much less prone to retaliatory behaviour and my journeys much more pleasant.

PS My favourite is still the guy who slowed down, wound down his window and shouted "get on the cycle path" (which terminated 20m further on) then accelerated away to shoot a red light at 50mph in a 30mph zone - stupidly lethal behaviour aside, you've just gotta laugh

Cheers

Stradageek

Stradageek

BlackPanther wrote:After nearly 2 months/800 miles on my Strada, I can confidently say that I've had fewer close passes than in the last 2 years/10,000 miles on my upright road/hybrid bikes. Apart from a couple of peds mis-judging my approach speed, and one woman who almost left-hooked me, I've had no near misses. The slight risk increase from riding faster is off set by being more visible on a 'weird 'recumbent. I would guess that a trike would be given even more attention, and despite being lower would actually prove to be as safe, if not safer than my high-racer.....plus I wouldn't be so nervous every time I have an uphill start from the lights!

Don't panic about the uphill starts they come with practice.

I do probably get an even wider berth on my trike but I wouldn't want to miss out on the effortless speed of the Strada (it's at least 3mph faster).

I decided last week that it is definitely the wierdness factor that counts. I followed my mate on his Corsa and although people have told me many times; it wasn't untill I saw a highracer myself from directly behind that I realised that a dismembered head atop a seat and two skinny wheels is probably going to wake up any driver!

Stradageek

Si wrote:did you measure the head angle and fork rake too? I find that these tend top have a major influence on the 'speed' of the steering.

Only by eye with the bikes next to each other, appear to be very close though the 700 obviously has a longer fork

Stradageek

I have a Bacchetta Strada, which I love but had a chance to try my friends Corsa 700 today. Nominally a very similar bike it was so much more stable than the Strada that I could ride 'no hands' without any problems, not something I can easily do on the Strada.

Much headscratching and tape measuring identified a much longer wheel base (+2") and a more central riding position on the Corsa. My Strada is a large frame with a longer boom (as I have long legs/short arms) so I sit very slightly further forward in a shorter wheel base with my legs overhanging the front wheel a bit (my firends Corsa had my legs seriously under extended but had to be there for me to reach the handlebars). So would a large frame Corsa behave the same way?

Interestingly, as we pulled away from a tight uphill junction after the 'no hands' revelation my friend had trouble making the corner on the Corsa whilst I manoeuvred away easily, so does the longer wheel base 'slow' the steering?

Idle thoughts really, I've no plans to upgrade - if indeed it would be.

Any comments?

Stradageek

That motorists are too used to ignoring them.

For only the second time in as many years I took to the road on an upright bike and again was scared witless by how close, fast and unsafely a car will pass, no matter how assertively I ride.

I've clearly got soft riding recumbents where the "what the bleep is that" wake-up factor, or the belief that all recumbent riders are disabled (not PC to kill disabled people) means that I'm always given loads of room. They may be low to the ground but I feel safer in every way!

Sadly, I guess, this advantage will be lost if recumbents become too popular.

Hey ho.

Stradageek

Hi Guys, I need to re-stock with gear cable outer (I use a lot of it to repair mine and my friends bikes) and think I'll buy a bulk reel this time to accommodate the tandem/recumbent lengths I often use. I mostly do repairs on cheaper bikes so the best is not necessary or affordable. Is 4mm or 5mm more common, will cable stops take either type of ferrule are Jagwire and Clarks reasonable, are they both non-spiral wound? I know some of the questions but need a clearish answer if I'm to shell out £25 on a 30m box. All advice much appreciated
Cheers Stradageek

Stradageek

On the disproportionate over representation of prestige cars I had an interesting chat with a horse rider. I remarked that I'd given up cycling in rural areas in Northants on any Friday evening because of the 'Executive racing home to village des-res for the weekend' problem. The Horse rider looked surprised at my comment and simply said "Didn't you know that?" Horse riders apprently NEVER take to the Northamptonshire lanes on any Friday evening (however sunny and inviting) for this very reason.

Cycling UK Forum

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Double Thickness Lycra Cycling Shorts

Re: New street lighting

Re: Suitable Recumbent Clothing

Re: mp3 induced accidents

Re: Behaviour change on the road

Re: Pat Kenny - Sentence

Re: Scottish Highlands Loop

Scottish Highlands Loop

Re: The problem with upright bikes is...

Re: The problem with upright bikes is...

Re: Bacchetta Corsa 700

Bacchetta Corsa 700

The problem with upright bikes is...

Which Gear Cable Outers

Re: Cycling 'incident' Statistics